Evening Republican, Volume 21, Number 302, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 27 December 1918 — LETTER FROM JOHN WORLAND [ARTICLE]

LETTER FROM JOHN WORLAND

France, Nov. 24, 1918. Dear Father and All: Today is “Dad’s letter day,” so I am not going to miss it. I guess you have it coming. The ban on letter writing has been .raised' and how we can write all we know and some things we don’t, if we can only- make you believe it. I have already let you know most all of what I have been doing/but I’ll try to tell you what I couldn’t get by the censor. We have been here at Bourron (Set M) since in June. It is the French and English tank repair station and the largest in the world, no doubt. There are also some French aisplanes repaired here but tanks are the biggest item. From 1000 to 2000 tanks were being sent to the front from this camp every week for three months previous to the signing of the armistice. Not all of them were completely overhauled, but alii of them were repaired and tested. A big per cent of them, however, are torn completely down, not even one thing left untouched. I work in the motor room and we turn out about an 'average of a motor a week, sometimes less. They come in in a terrible shape and every thing is put in new that needs repairing. Sprung crank shafts and flat thros are quite common, scored cylinders and broken connecting rods are expected and we don’t get surprised often. There are several kinds of tanks, but the Renault, a French tank, is considered the best tank ever produced by anyone up to date. It is small compared to the English tanks but is quite capable. It is manned by two men, a driver and a gunner, and is equipped with one of three guns, either a 75 m. (8 in.),, 37 (1% ip.) or a machine gun. It is capable of doing 20 to 25 miles 'an.hour and can turn directly around and retreat an less than its own length and never slow down it® speed; it sure wouH surprise you to see one of them “tarn tail.’.’ They can cHmb a remarkably steep grade. lam enclosing a few photos of this Renault Showing it going through the tests before leaving for the front. Another tank of note, an English tank, is equipped with six machine guns, four 57 m. "guns and carries a crew of twelve, besides it can carry thirty “doughboys” with at (inside) up to an advanced post where they let them out. It is about 30 feet long and real active for it seize. I wouldn’t attempt to guess its weight. The motor alone perhaps weighs two tons. There were a few Ford tanks here; they were mere toys compared to the Englis htanks. Several German tanks were brought here. They were used as targets by the affi-ed tanks. Quite appropriate, I’d say. > These tank* return in all conditions to us. Some are completely salvaged. It is impossible to describe how bad they do look, but I can. form a good idea of how many men return in some of them that meet a “tank shell.” These shells jet the tank on fire, both Hie gasoline and ammunition, and it is not uncommon to see exploded cartridges eight and ten inches deep in a tank

floor. Shortley before the armistice was signed we were working 16 hours a day getting tanks out, but no one ■1 knew how rd winning the war. ig here we were stations, not far from irked there on motorplanes. I liked that nks, but they needed While there I got to twice, taking up some motors and bringing some back not in quite as good condiUoii. It was quite a sight up there but I won’t go into dhtaib about it as yotf have, no doubt, heard more about* {that now than you can believe. There were several French aarI dromes where we were stationed and we got to see some air battles. They are amusing to watch but not nearly

so amusing to the pilot that gets shot down in flames. One more thing I wish to tell you w about the depth bombs we dropped for “Jerry” on our way over on the “Vaterland.” We were just in sight of lapd for the first tune, just off the coast of Ireland, when the crew thought they sighted a sob. .There were three depth : bomA>. charges let down but it didn’t bring up any “Jerries.” I was on deck at the time and I thought we had been struck by a sub. The decks were soon filled, only to find that at was our own ammunntion that caused the jar. I could tell you of plenty of itfteresting instances but it would mpke most too long a letter, anyway, I want to save some to tell after I get home. lam back from my furlough now and had a fine time, and also took my first ride in an airplane; it’s

a fuhnya&eling, especially when you go to land. It seems like the earth comes up to meet you; it makes you feel like you have been missing some- ’ thing, end that you had just found it at last <* lam in the shops again. I don’t’ know how long we will remain in them but'Until peace is signed or until they are all finished. We are leased to the French and it is uncertain when they will release us. If we return to the U. S. in the order an which we arrived, we ought to be back yet this winter as we were among the first 300,000 men ini France. I think I will have enough soldiering for the rest of my life. I could write on indefinitely, hut as I have several mors letters to write, I will say au revoir. lam your affectionate son, SERGT. JNO. E. WORLAND. So. 7, 2nd Air Service Meeh. Reg., A. P. O. 702, American E. F., France. P. S.—l haven’t heard from Paul since I wrote Mamma last. No doubt he will write you today also.